Ever since its formation around 4.5 billion years ago (Neoproterozoic days), Earth’s rotation has been gradually slowing down. It’s a process that continues to this day, and estimates suggest that the length of a day currently increases by about 1.8 milliseconds every century. But why is the Earth’s spin slowing down?
The ozone layer acts as a shield for life on Earth, so when scientists discovered a hole in the ozone layer, it was a matter of grave concern. In this Breakdown, we discuss the steps taken to protect the ozone layer and why it’s important we continue to make strides.
Despite all the steps we take to protect ourselves from mosquitoes, they still seem to find their way to us. So, what happens when a mosquito bites and why are they so itchy?
Rain or shine, winter or summer, any time spent outdoors leaves your delicate skin vulnerable to sun damage. No matter where you are -- the beach, the mountains, or just walking down the street -- if you are outside, your skin is being pummeled by the sun’s invisible, damaging, and harmful rays.
Warmer water temperatures are contributing to more bacteria in our oceans. Scientist believe the rise in cases of flesh-eating bacteria will continue to rise
Running around the backyard on warm summer nights in an attempt to catch lightning bugs is a fun pastime. These insects, also known as fireflies, can light up the night with their magical glow. But, what actually makes them flash? And why do they do it?
Have you ever woken up after a clear summer night to find the grass is wet, even though you know it didn’t rain overnight? The moisture on the grass is called dew. In this Breakdown, we discuss how dew forms.
In a previous Breakdown, we discussed why bees are important to the environment. But now let’s talk about the dangers they face and why they need our help. Bees are disappearing.
Sinkholes rarely happen, but when they strike, tragedy can occur. Sinkholes happen when the ground below the land surface cannot support the land surface, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The RMS Titanic is disappearing. The iconic ocean liner that was sunk by an iceberg is now slowly succumbing to metal-eating bacteria: holes pervade the wreckage, the crow's nest is already gone and the railing of the ship's iconic bow could collapse at any time.
The oceans cover about 70 percent of the Earth’s surface, and that about 97 percent of all water on and in the Earth is saline—there’s a lot of salty water on our planet. But, where did all this salt come from?
Those who live in hurricane prone areas understand how intense these storms can be, and these tropical systems have multiple threats. While many of us picture wind and storm surge at the coast, the risk from hurricanes extends inland.
When you think of lightning, you think of a thunderstorm. Many people also assume that hurricanes have a lot of lightning because they are made up of hundreds of thunderstorms. However, hurricanes do not typically produce lightning.
Fireworks can be a beautiful sight but have you ever wondered why the smoke lingers. In this breakdown we talk about a pretty common weather phenomenon that keeps the smoke in the air.
Without winds, the Earth would be inhabitable. Winds distribute heat energy over our planet. If we did not have any winds in the atmosphere, it would be extremely hot in the tropical regions and extremely cold in the northern regions.
Hurricane season is among us and with it the usual dangers: intense winds, storm surge, and heavy rain. But there are some hidden dangers you may not know about.
